Introduction:
Memory is a person’s ability to absorb, store, retain and recall information. It has two major parts: short-term and long-term memory. Short-term memories contain information that you only need to recall for a few minutes, for instance, remembering an OTP for courier delivery. Long-term memories contain memories from holidays, events, your daily functions such as driving, typing, etc. as well as who you are. When children first learn something, it goes into their short-term memory before it reaches their long-term memory repository, and it is not uncommon for it to disappear at this stage.
Memory isn’t something you master in one day. To build memory, it is essential to make sure that your child is regularly working on his or her memory. Along with academics, it is also essential to know the importance of basic life skills that you can help your child with.
Why is memory building so essential?
A strong memory makes learning and understanding new things a lot easier. It helps children perform better at school and also enrich their experiences and build essential life skills. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic students, parents and teachers are struggling with virtual learning. Students have to deal with the stressful situation of attending classes online, which they are not used to.
This makes it harder for them to understand and absorb a particular topic as students lack practical knowledge and experiment. Because of this your child might be lacking in studies and might not understand the concept easily.
Along with focusing on the best education for your child, it is also essential to look for the best ways to develop your child’s memory.
Below are a few tips that will help parents in building their child’s memory.
Colours:
Colours play a huge role in memory building, especially for younger children. It is also the reason why brands use bright colours because it catches attention easily. Making use of colours while teaching your children is another way to ensure that the information stays in their brains for a longer time. The use of colours helps in easy recall and is also found a great way in building memory. When studying it is recommended to get pens or markers of different colours to mark the different points as per their importance. You can also use sticky notes on the textbook which can be beneficial.
Ask your child to teach you:
It is said that if you have truly understood something it is easy to explain it to others. Use this trick with your children. When they learn some new topic, ask them to teach you or their younger sibling. This will make them sharper and will clear their doubts. It will also help them revise the concept over and over again which will help them memorize.
Break Information into smaller parts:
Learning one thing at a time will help your child understand the concept deeply and will also allow them to learn better. Start with small basics and later jump to the bigger topics. Organize the information with headings, lists, and colours to make it easier for your child to recall later.
Utilize all the Senses:
Practical learning is always better because it particularly engages the students in a specific object. Try to utilize all the senses when learning something. Make use of sight, touch, and sound—read aloud, have a conversation, or use props while learning. This helps engage your child with the material more than one way and makes it easier for them to understand. Giving your child a chance to process information through sight, sound, touch, and movement, can achieve better memory retention and learn beyond textbooks.
Create Mind Maps:
A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that helps structure information, analyse, comprehend, synthesize, recall and generate new ideas. Creating a mind map will help your child come up with various ideas and imagination of how they relate to the topic. Building connections between words and topics help children actively engage with the material and develop a deeper understanding, which is an important part of memory.
This also helps in boosting a child’s imagination powers, helps them focus better, and improves their concentration level. Also, it makes learning more fun and engaging. Building memory does not depend on mugging; it is about creativity, perseverance, and understanding a concept in your way. We believe that every child has the power to learn and conquer their dreams and TAS is the foundation that will help your child master their goals. Along with above we have to keep few following things with children, they are:
• Give Short Instructions
• Create Routines
• Provide a healthy diet:
• Play Memory and Card Games
• Encourage regular physical activity
• Encourage good sleep habits
• Encourage Reading habit
• Repeat Information
• Use Visuals
• Avoid Distractions
• Be a good role model to your Children
Conclusion:
In Athena Global School, IGCSE, we strongly believe that all children have different strengths and ways of learning, so try new things to find what works for your child. What works well for another child may not work as well for yours, and vice versa. Encourage them and be patient in their improvement. Don’t expect results overnight and be sure to celebrate your child’s small wins as this will motivate them to keep going.
Author: Chellammal NB, ICT Facilitator (Grades 4- 8), Athena Global School, Chennai.
